THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 2017 SPORTS Three more Russians get IAAF green light to compete PARIS: Three female Russian athletes were given tition as neutral athletes while the Russian national that finished fourth at the 2015 Beijing world importance of the doping review board’s “huge the green light yesterday to compete international- federation (RusAF) remains suspended. championships, while Rebrik finished 24th in the task should not be underestimated”. “There can be ly as neutrals, world athletics’ governing body “Their participation as neutral athletes in javelin in China and former world youth and junior no time constraints or deadlines when the protec- announced. international competition is still subject to for- gold medallist Rudakova made the semi-finals of tion of clean athletes everywhere is at stake,” said The International Association of Athletics malities for eligibility under IAAF rules being the 400m hurdles. The three successful applica- Coe. A total of 12 Russian athletes (10 in 2017 and Federations (IAAF) said its doping review board completed and subject to acceptance of their tions were part of 58 cases reviewed by the doping two in 2016) have previously been declared eligi- had agreed that the applications of Kseniya entries by individual meeting organisers,” IAAF review board, with 28 declined and a further 27 ble to compete as neutral athletes and they Aksyonova (400m), Vera Rebrik (javelin) and Vera said in a statement. remaining under review. In total this year 13 appli- remain eligible to compete in international com- Rudakova (400m hurdles) met the exceptional eli- Aksyonova, Universiade 400m champion in cations have been approved and 45 have been petition subject to acceptance by individual meet- gibility criteria to compete in international compe- 2013, was part of the Russian 4x400m relay team declined. IAAF president Sebastian Coe said the ing organisers. — AFP Strauss says more England gain than pain in IPL LONDON: Andrew Strauss believes letting But former England captain Strauss said England stars such as Ben Stokes play in the he would be reluctant to let senior players Indian Premier League is worth any poten- go to the IPL if it meant they were unavail- tial injury risk. able for Test duty. “When you get to the All-rounder Stokes, paid a record $2.16 stage where you’re missing Test matches to million to take part in this year’s IPL, was play in IPL that sends out a very strong mes- named the tournament’s most valuable sage about where your priorities are-and I player after helping Rising Pune Supergiant would be uncomfortable with that.” reach the knockout phase in the cash-rich Strauss said trying to balance a player’s Twenty20 competition. He returned to hit a commitments was no simple task in an era match-winning hundred as England of franchise cricket. clinched a one-day international series vic- “It’s not an easy one to navigate our way tory over South Africa at Southampton on through,” he admitted. “I think the players Saturday. But he only bowled five overs in who have gone over (to India this year) and two matches against the Proteas and was played a number of games have benefited rested from Monday’s seven-wicket defeat massively from the experience. “(But) we’ve at Lord’s with a knee injury, having already always got to balance that great opportuni- had surgery last year. ty for them with the schedules and work- Chris Woakes, also recently returned loads and the importance of us peaking for from the IPL, missed both the Southampton important series as an international team.” and Lord’s matches because of a thigh mus- cle problem, although he and Stokes, ‘NO MARGIN FOR ERROR’ together with Moeen Ali (groin), are all England have never won a major one- expected to face Bangladesh in England’s day international trophy but Strauss, who Champions Trophy opener at the Oval on has put a renewed emphasis on white-ball LONDON: England’s Joe Root bats during a nets session at the Oval cricket ground in London yesterday. England will play Thursday. England and Wales Cricket Board cricket since taking up his ECB role, was Bangladesh at the Oval today in the first match of Champions Trophy cricket competition. — AP director Strauss is well aware of the already upbeat about their Champions Trophy packed schedule confronting players who chances. “We’ve match-winners from one CRICKET remain solely on international duty, but said to seven, so I think other teams will look at what those who appeared in the IPL learnt us and think they’re up against dangerous outweighed the chance of an injury. opposition,” he said. “But one thing we do England, Bangladesh aim to banish “That is the slight risk you take when you know about the Champions Trophy is that make people available for a chunk of cricket there’s no margin for error. that is outside the international schedule,” “You can’t afford any bad days, so you’re batting blues in Trophy opener he explained. “Injuries are part and parcel a little bit in the lap of the gods.”Monday of the life generally, but on one hand you saw England collapse to 20 for six at Lord’s LONDON: Spectators have long been advised to Bangladesh wanted any more than England, a have done well in our last few matches against weigh up the potential risk and on the oth- as South Africa’s pacemen made the most get to sporting events early and they could miss much-improved one-day side since the Tigers England and we are confident,” he said. er you ask what they can potentially gain of cloud cover. the key part of today’s Champions Trophy open- knocked them out of the 2015 World Cup, Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha from that experience.” But former opening batsman Strauss er between England and Bangladesh at the Oval wished to see their top order suffer such a spec- tried to minimise the impact of Tuesday’s reverse Strauss played down concerns about was happy with the dynamic way England if they aren’t in on time. tacular slump against South Africa, even if they by saying: “Obviously it affects the confidence a the fitness of Stokes and Woakes by say- have played the 50-over game under white- Even in June, early morning cloud cover that were already 2-0 up in the three-match series. little bit, but this is a practice game. ing: “Thankfully I don’t think any of those ball captain Eoin Morgan since a woeful aids swing is often a key part of English cricket Yet it says something about England’s current “It’s a big game for us, the first game of the injuries are of massive concern at this first-round exit from the 2015 World Cup conditions. ‘white-ball’ approach that Jonny Bairstow, their Champions Trophy. “But our preparation was stage.” .”When you’re trying to play a high-tempo, The proof came as recently as Monday when, only batsman to make a fifty at Lord’s, may not good apart from this game so we are confident With white-ball cricket an early season more positive, aggressive style of play, at across London at Lord’s, England collapsed to 20 play at the Oval if all-rounders Ben Stokes and anyway,” added the former Sri Lanka batsman, priority given England are hosting the the back of your mind, you almost have to for six in five overs-the worst start in one-day Chris Woakes are fully fit. “I haven’t seen a team with the Tigers having beaten both New Zealand Champions Trophy, the ECB changed accept you’re going to get it wrong now international history-against the South Africa win a global tournament playing defensively,” and Ireland in a triangular warm-up event in course this year by letting star men take and again and you’re going to have some new-ball duo of Kagiso Rabada and Wayne said England coach Trevor Bayliss. Dublin this month. The Champions Trophy part in the IPL. bad days along the way,” he said. — AFP Parnell. “It’s always a team that backs itself and plays opener is set to feature several survivors on both A green-tinged pitch did not find favour with bold cricket,” added the Australian, looking to sides from Bangladesh’s 2015 World Cup win England captain Eoin Morgan but even on more guide England to their first major ODI title. over England, when a hundred from placid surfaces the issue of how best to bat “From that point of view the message won’t Mahmudullah and aggressive seam bowling under grey skies, which can often set in all day in change,” insisted the former Sri Lanka coach. propelled the Tigers to a memorable success at England, as many a cold fan knows, remains. the Adelaide Oval. Bangladesh highlighted the issue in dramatic ‘DONE WELL AGAINST ENGLAND’ “Whatever you have done in the past gives style by collapsing to 84 all out in reply to Bangladesh collapsed to 22 for six in 7.3 overs you a little bit of confidence, but then you have Champions Trophy title-holders India’s 324 for against India, not as bad as England on Monday, to start again,” said Hathurusinghe. seven in their final warm-up match at the Oval but concerning all the same. But Mehedi Hasan, “So whatever we do first against England, we on Tuesday. who top-scored for the Tigers with 24, said they need to start well and that’s Defeat by 240 runs was certainly not want still believed they could beat England “Yes.